All-star field listed for masters shot exhibition in New Mexico

Jamie Koch

Jamie Koch, organizer of the masters shot exhibition at USATF open indoor nationals, wrote me today to list the bulk of his 8-man field in Albuquerque. “The participants include Paul Economides in the 60s; Steve Ross in the 60s; Tim Miller from Arizona in the 55s; Mike Charas in the 55s,Jerry Vaughn in the 70s and my close competitor for over a decade,Bob Ward in the 75s; and myself,” he says. “I will be moving in to the 75s this year so am leaving the younger whipper snappers behind.” Except for Tim and Mike, I see great marks for everyone. This may be the first time that athletes in their mid-70s have been invited to compete at the open indoor (or outdoor) nationals. These gentlemen have great technique and will put on a wonderful show. Best of luck to all on February 28!

Jamie’s entire note to me:

Coach Joe Franklin of University of New Mexico Track and Field forwarded your email to me. Thank you for your request for information about the upcoming masters shot put exhibition in Albuquerque.

First off, let me be clear that this is an exhibition only. This event is not a sanctioned USATF sanctioned meet, nor was it ever intended to be.
Let me give you some background. I am on the Board of Regents for the University of New Mexico, from which I graduated in 1959. I lettered in football and wrestling and have long been a supporter of the athletic department.

I obtained $1.9 million to redo our outdoor track. I teamed with Brad Winter, a pole vaulter and Albuquerque City Councilor, Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez, and UNM to purchase one of the best indoor tracks available.
Coach Franklin wanted to do something to reward these efforts on behalf of UNM Track and Field.

He asked me to invite a few shot putters to participate in a masters level exhibition prior to the USA Indoor Championships.

Richard Ceronie, Meet Director of the USA Indoor Championships, will assure you that it is standard procedure for the Local Organizing Committee to host two exhibitions prior to the games, if the LOC so desires. The USA Indoor Championships Committee does not want these exhibits to be sanctioned. One of these exhibitions this year will be for the masters level shot put. This is NOT a sanctioned meet. It is NOT an event for the USA Master Association and is NOT intended to be.

The participants include Paul Economides in the 60s; Steve Ross in the 60s; Tim Miller from Arizona in the 55s; Mike Charas in the 55s, Jerry Vaughn in the 70s and my close competitor for over a decade; Bob Ward in the 75s; and myself. I will be moving in to the 75s this year so am leaving the younger whipper snappers behind.

†I did not suggest this exhibition but I agreed to invite a maximum of 8 shot putters once Coach Franklin asked me to put together an exhibition. I hope this information answers your questions. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions.

11 Responses

Leigh - January 14, 2010

I think you mean Mike Shiaras, not Mike Charas…sorry if I’m wrong.
It should be a great exhibition. I’ve been fortunate enough to see Tim, Paul and Mike S. throw. They are all great competitors and fun to watch. Hope the younger guys can do what these guys are doing when they get “up there”

Anonymous - January 14, 2010

wow…..what a snub for Paul Ossman. Won indoor and outdoor 50-54 last year. Also works for NBC too.

I am sadden that this field could not have been coed. Nini Lewis would have been an inspiration to the younger women as well as to the men.

Randy Wilson - January 14, 2010

Great group. Wish I could watch.
I agree Paul would have been a nice addition.
I hope they invited Dennis Diaz 51(16 Meter thrower) from New Mexico.

Marty Wright - January 14, 2010

Randy,
Yes, as soon as I saw the article I emailed Dennis. I guess it’s too late for him if he was not invited. I think it’s awesome that this exhibition was added!

Steve Vaitones - January 15, 2010

****
Written:
Richard Ceronie, Meet Director of the USA Indoor Championships, will assure you that it is standard procedure for the Local Organizing Committee to host two exhibitions prior to the games, if the LOC so desires.
****
Not entirely correct. The LOC has, in recent years, been able to hold exhibition events (which are also invitational in the pure sense that they are not necessarily open to all) but there is no restriction on being held before the meet proper; our relays were embedded into and listed in the daily schedule.
***
Then written:
The USA Indoor Championships Committee does not want these exhibits to be sanctioned.
****
Not true at all
Any _event_ held in a sanctioned _meet_ is covered by the sanction. One does not sanction each competition event by event. The events are part of the sanctioned meet. So yes, record watchers, the performances should be eligible for records. The meet committee would certainly
want them to be sanctioned if for no other reason than the liability insurance.
****
Also written:
One of these exhibitions this year will be for the masters level shot put. This is NOT a sanctioned meet.
****
As stated, the events held with the meet are sanctioned if it has any connecttion to the meet. I don’t see how one could “extract” an event from sanctioned meet
*****
It is NOT an event for the USA Master Association
** Whatever the USA Masters Association is ***
and is NOT intended to be.
*** And that is true as it is an exhibition and an by-invite-only competition.
Steve V
(Been there, done that)

pokethrower - January 15, 2010

It’s too bad that they did not include 35-39 Elite Putter and National Masters Champ Chad Lindsay to this list since he is right here in area in Wyoming??? He threw 58′ 8″ this past summer and would be thrilled to be a part of it!!

Little Thorwer - January 15, 2010

As a lot of us know, young guys & gals just don’t get enough respect in the masters community. Hopefully, Chad Lindsay can stay healthy and show those that like to look down on the the younger age groups by launching some big throws at altitude this spring and qualifying for USATF Nationals outright. He’s real close to the mark and I am rooting for him!
Here’s to Chad and all the other young masters that put up national & world class open marks, but get overlooked because someone oblierated a record based on age grading!!!

Ken Stone - January 19, 2010

One of the entrants writes me:
I wanted to let you know that Paul Ossman just informed me that he has been included in the eight man field at the USATF championships shot put exhibition. Paul is a good friend who trains with Nelson and Hoffa in the Atlanta area and is the local weatherman on TV. He is a fine thrower who has really come on lately since switching from the spin to the glide a year ago. Recall that Paul won the indoor and outdoor championships in M50 in 2009.

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About Ken Stone

Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and webmaster since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials, the last three as a blogger and Patch correspondent. [More...]